Complete tourism projects on time: CM

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 20

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has directed officers of the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department to ensure the time-bound completion of the ongoing projects to avoid cost escalation.

Presiding over a review meeting of department here today, Thakur said the Cultural Centre at Janjehli in Mandi district had been completed at Rs 25.75 crore and would be operational on the PPP mode. A pre-bid meeting for the project was slated for June 3 and bids would be submitted on June 25. He said the heliport in Shimla would be completed by the end of July.

He said Kangra Haat, Dal Lake and Art and Craft Project at Bhalei Mata Temple was nearing completion and a convention centre at Kiarighat in Solan district would be completed by September.

He said Shivdham in Mandi was an ambitious project, the first phase of which had been awarded to Generic Engineering Construction and Projects. He directed PWD authorities to expedite the work on the construction of road leading to the project.

Thakur said Bantony Castle, Shimla, would be completed by September. He said the ropeway ski lift, ski resort, helipad, camping and ski slopes would be developed at Chanshal in Shimla district on the PPP mode for which last date for receiving the expression of interest was June 19.

Thakur said an Institute of Hotel Management would be constructed at Dharamsala by upgrading the existing Food Craft Institute. This would provide the trained manpower to the hospitality sector. He directed the officers to ensure the time-bound completion of heliports at Baddi, Rampur and Kangnidhar.